Planning Your Fee Credit

This page outlines the processes for applying for Stormwater Utility Credits. The Stormwater Utility Credit program provides reductions in the Stormwater Utility Fee based on practices the property owner maintains to reduce the amount of stormwater runoff and pollution. All property owners must demonstrate to the city that there Best Management Practice is functioning as intended.

Residential applications apply only to single-family dwellings and two-family dwellings. Residential property owners can receive up to a fifty percent credit on their stormwater utility fee.

Commercial applications apply to commercial, industrial, institutional, and multifamily residential properties. Property owners can receive up to 100% credit on their stormwater utility fee. The deadline for submission of any application is December 31 for credits to be effective the following October.

Application Requirements

• Completed Residential Credit Application (PDF), signed by the property owner
• Photographs, if claiming credit for a rain barrel, roof drain disconnection, waste and refuse management, grass channel, or vegetative filter strip
• Sketch of property with location and type of each tree, if claiming credit for tree canopy
• Certification from the Virginia Health Department, if claiming credit for sewage system maintenance
• Photographs and verification of proper installation, if claiming credit for any Level II BMP
• Plan and properly executed Stormwater Maintenance Agreement on file, if claiming credit for Regional BMP
•Property owners must show that they contribute to the maintenance of the BMP either physically or financially by affidavit signed by the Home Owners Association president

Review Process

All applications for stormwater utility credit are reviewed by Karl Kleinhenz, City Planner II, within 30 days of receipt.

Please see the residential credit manual and idea book for a description of these BMPs and their maintenance requirements. All applicants will receive a letter by mail or email informing them of the percent credit awarded.

Revocation

All BMPs are subject to inspection by City inspectors; by virtue of signing the application to receive a credit. Should an inspector find that the applicant has failed to properly maintain his/her BMP, the City may exercise its option to revoke any credits awarded. The applicant may re-apply for credits once he/she has shown that the BMP has been restored.

Submission Requirements

• Completed Commercial Credit Application (PDF), signed by the property owner.
• As-Built drawings
• Photos of each BMP
• Maintenance sharing agreement, if applicable
• Stormwater calculations
• Maintenance agreement with the City, signed and recorded with the land records
• VPDES permit, if applicable

Review Process

All applications for stormwater utility credit are reviewed by Karl Kleinhenz, City Planner II, within 30 days of receipt.

Commercial credits are awarded based on the actual impervious area served by each BMP. The BMP must be listed in the Virginia BMP Clearinghouse to qualify. Commercial applicants may receive up to 100% credit. Credits are awarded based on the following:
•Quantity: BMPs such as detention ponds and underground storage facilities.
•Quality: BMPs such as extended detention ponds, infiltration, filtration, and pretreatment facilities.
•Voluntary: BMPs that were installed but not required under the regulations in force at the time of development.
•Above and Beyond: BMPs that exceed the current regulations in detention or pollutant removal.
•Off-site control or treatment: If the BMP on 1 property accepts runoff from another site, the applicant may claim credits for off site control.

All applicants will receive a letter by mail or email informing them of the percent credit awarded.

Revocation

All BMPs are subject to inspection by City inspectors; by virtue of signing the application to receive a credit. Should an inspector find that the applicant has failed to properly maintain his/her BMP, the City may exercise its option to revoke any credits awarded. The applicant may re-apply for credits once he/she has shown that the BMP has been restored.

The total of ALL measures, Level 1 for 10% each and Level 2 for 25% each, cannot exceed 50% for any single parcel. Level 2 BMPs take more effort to install and maintain than Level 1 BMPs.

Level 1

Rain Barrel

– If you have installed at least 1 rain barrel as per the instructions in the Credit Manual, you can take this credit. Please provide photos.

Roof Drain Disconnection

– If your down spouts are not piped underground to either the sanitary sewer system or directly to the curb, you can take this credit.
Waste and Refuse Management – If you store your blue trash can in an enclosed area such as a shed, garage, cabinet or under a deck, you can take this credit. Please provide photos.

Grass Channel

- This must be designed and installed according to plan to be able to take this credit. Please provide a plan and photos of the channel.

Vegetated Filter Strip

– This must be designed and installed according to a plan to be able to take this credit. Please provide a plan and photos of the area.
Sewage System Maintenance – If you have a septic system, and maintain it per the Credit Manual, you can take this credit. Please provide Health Dept. certification.

Trees

– At least 20% of the property must be covered in tree canopy to take this credit. Trees must be listed on page 15 of the Credit Manual and be the stated minimum size if you plant them. Each tree will count for the listed canopy size of 20 years regardless if they are just planted or 100 years old. To calculate how much coverage you need, take the lot size in square feet from the GIS Web site and multiply it by 0.2. All of the trees’ Canopy at 20 Years area must add up to at least that number to be able to take this credit.

Lawn Maintenance

– If you follow at least 3 practices listed on page 6 of the Credit Manual, you can take this credit. List 3 practices that you follow.

Regional Quality/Quantity BMP

– If you live in a subdivision that has a stormwater detention facility and you contribute to the maintenance of that facility, you may be able to take this credit.

Other Practice

– If you have another practice not listed here, you may be able to take credit for it. Please describe and provide photos.

Level 2

Pervious Pavement

- This must be designed by a professional and installed according to plan to be able to take this credit. Please provide plans and verification of installation.

Rain Garden

– This must be designed by a professional and installed according to plan to be able to take this credit. Please provide a plan, verification of installation and photos.
Cistern – This must be designed by a professional and installed according to plan to be able to take this credit.

Green Roof

– This must be designed and installed according to plan to be able to take this credit. Please provide photos.

Infiltration Practice

- This must be designed and installed according to plan to be able to take this credit. Please provide a plan and photos.

Other BMP

– If you have a BMP not listed here that has been designed and installed according to plan, you may be able to take credit for it. Please provide plan and photos.